Well-testing tool



JunelZ, 1928.

c. T. NEITZEI.

WELL TESTING TOOL Original Filed Feb. 14, 1927 Reissued June 12, 1928.

-UN1TED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

CONRAD T. NEITZEL, OF DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR T BRODIE H. ASHBY, OF

DALLAS, TEXAS.

WELL-TESTING Toor..

Original No. 1,625,140, dated April 19, 1927, Serial No. 167,910, filedFebruary 14, 1927. Application for reissue le'd `Tune 28, 1927. SerialNo. 202,150.

This invention relates to rotary well tools and equipment and it hasparticular reference to a new and useful tool designed for the purposeof obtaining tests of sands and mineral strata principally in drillingoil wells. and its chief object resides in t-he provision of equipmentby which to determine the nature` and characteristics of the strataencountered, and whether or not it possesses 1u such value as to justifythe installation of casing.

The invention further comprehends a tool of the character designatedwhich may be substituted for the drill bit, in cases where l5 sand testsare required, and lowered into the hole without the usual waste of timeand otherwise expensive procedureof setting up casing, the latter notinfrequently proving to be of no value Whatever.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a'doubleseat, their joint function being positively effective in shutting offall fluid tending to rise above the tool, and forcing the same to passthrough the tool into the drill pipe, there to be trapped and used as asample.

Yet another object of the invention resides in its apparent simplicityof construction and operation, its operative parts being but few andthose subjected to wear being capable of interchangeability whennecessary.

lVith these foremost objects in View, the invention has furtherreference to its salient features of construction and operation ofparts, as well as certain other objects and advantages not hereto setforth, which will be manifested in the following detail description andillustrated in the accompany-- ing drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 represents a sideelevational View of the invention in operativeposition within a well, shown in axial cross-section, and

Figure 2 is a side elevational view in a similar position.

Proceeding now more in detail with the drawing, it may be first statedfor the, purpose of setting out ina comprehensive manner the.improvement contemplated, that heretofore, when a driller encounterswhat appears to be pay sand lie is first required to pull the drill pipeassembly, re-enter the hole with a smaller bit to create a. shouldertherein to supporteJ string of casing, which is in turn run into thehole. The drill pipe is then used for Washing the sand, and during theprocess of making such a test, the drill pipe assembly is required to beremoved in order to bail .out the well. A tubing assembly is usuallysubstituted for the drill pipe, having a working barrel attached inwhich is contain-ed a valve assembly. In addition to the equipmentdescribed, the usual sucker rod assembly is necessary to pump the fluidto the ground surface for a test. Should the test prove of noconsequence, drilling to a greater depth must be resumed.

Referring now particularly to Figurel l of the drawings, the inventionis shown as being provided with a valve casing 1 externally threaded tothe head 2, which, in turn is threadedly attached to the drill stemassembly, not shown.

The valve casing 1 is provided with interior threads near its lower endfor the purpose of supporting the valve head 3, through which slides thevalve stem 4, the latter having a central flange 5 into which isthreaded the ends of a series of connecting pins 6. These pins passunrestrictedly through the valve stem guide 7, and while the latter isshown ,las a single piece, it is of course apparent that its reducedlower end may be detachable if desired to simplify as; sembly. l

As apparent in Figure 1, the valve stem 4 is supplied with expansionrings 7 for the purpose of maintaining a constant friction on the innersurface of tl're valve head 3, to take up all possible wear,and furtherto provide for the substitution of parts should the wear render the sameimpractical for further use. Moreover, the top of the valve stem 4 isinwardly deflected as a precaution against the accumulation of sand orother such substance thereabove.

`The pins 6 are bolted at their lower ends to a bushing 8 surroundingthe lower end of the valve guide 7. Interposed between the shoulder (Lof the valve guide 7 and bushing 8 is a compressible annular cushion orpacker 9, to which reference will be later made during a description ofoperation.

Surrounding the bushing 8 is a conical shaped member 10, composedpreferably of fibre, or any equivalent material of tough i theyieldability consistency and capable of considerable hard usage, sincethis member is subjected to great strain. The cone 10 and bushing) areheld against downward displacement a coupling 11 threaded u on t e loweren of the valve guide 7 whic provides a connection for the perforatedsections of pipe or anchor 12. y

In operation, a shoulder b is formed .1n the hole, nsuallyby the use ofa small drill bit, after y'which the tool is substituted for the drillbitby screwing the neck 13 therein, much in the same manner as a drillbit. The tool is then lowered into'the hole until the cone 10 strikesthe shoulder Z). f

The resiliency of the conc together with ofthe earthen shoulder b formsaA packing practically impenetrable by the fluid and sand below theshoulder. Y

The weight of the drill stem assembly is imposed upon the tool andconsequently uponv the cone 10 which rests upon theshoulder b, wherebythe guide 7 is caused to slide downward within the bushing 8. Thisdownward movement of thelguide, through its enlarge-v ment, compressesthe cushion or packer 9 which iscaused to seek space beyonld theperiphery of the tool body, and the fluid, if any, rising by reason ofan improper seatmg of the cone 10 is constrained. against passage by thebulging of the cushion or packer 9 against the well wall. This forms adouble packing as a precaution against escape of any fluid above thetool.

The downward movement of the casing 1 with the guide 7, whereby theannular cushion or packer 9 is compressed, also causes a downwardmovement of the guide 7 relative to the pins 6, which are heldstationary by the bushing8. The valve stem 4 is thus supported againstmovement and the head 3 being attac led to the casing is caused t0 s11dedownwardly onthe stem, whereby its ports 15 are caused to registerwithports14 in the stem, consequently creating a free passage for the fluidand sand through the ports in the pipe 12 upward toa level above thehead, where it is entrapped by an upward movement of the'tool.

Upon an upward movement of the tool, the casing 1r will be lifted, thustaking the weight oil' of the cushion or packer 9, which will expandvertically and thus exert a downward force upon the bushing 8 and cone10, with the result that the cone will be ,held on the shoulder b andthe guide 7 will move upwardly with the casing 1 andhead 3, therebyclosing the ports 14 and 15 and returning the parts to their normalinoperative positions.

The tool may be elevated to the ground surface, and a test made of thesand trapped within the drill pipe above the tool.

Should the test prove the strata to be of no value, it is necessary onlyto substitute leasing, each having member below sald casing havingsupporting the drill for the tool, lower into the hole and resume thedrilling operation, preparatory to another test, without the usual wasteof valve inoperative for the purposes intended.

as in most types of valves used in a similar manner. This feature 1saugmented by reason of the deflected upper end of the valve stem. Thevalve stem is further rendered leak proof, as a preventive againstseeping back into the hole the fluid entrapped above -the valve, by theinterpositioning of the packing rings 7 intermediate and on either sideof the, valve ports, as shown.

Manifestly, the construction shown vis capable of considerablevariation, and such variationfas is in keepin with the a pended claimsis considered wit in the spirit of the invention.

I claim: v

1. A sand testing tool including a casing containing a valve and asliding valve headguided upon the valve, each having ports adapted berbelow said valve and connected therewith; an annular compressiblecushion intermediate said-valve and seating member to yield to adownward movement of the valve head to register said orts, and means topermit passage of fini `through said ports to be trapped above thevalvewhen closed. v 2. A sand testing tool including 'a valve and aslidin valve head confined within a casing, each aving-ports; a conicalseating member below said easing arranged to re- Strictthe passage oflatter, and connected with the valve; a compressible cushion disposedintermediate said valve head and seating member adapted to yield to themovement of the former when seated to register said ports, and means topermit ingress of sand and fluid to thereby trap the same above saidvalve.

3. A well testing tool including a sliding valve head and'a valveconfined within a ports; a conical seating connection with the valve,the casing being capable of limited movement relatively ,of the seatingmember, a coinpressible member intermediate said valve head andtheseating member yielding to the action of said valve head when saidmember isl seated to aline the ports in said head and said valve, andmeans to ermit the ingress of fluid into said tool to e trapped aliovesaid valve head when released. l

4. A well testing tool including a valve head and valve confined wit-hina casing, each having ports capable of alinement; a seating member belowsaid casing having connection to register; a1 conica-1 seatinr mem`fluid exteriorly of the with said valve for supporting it to effectalmement of said ports when seated; a compressible member interposedbetween said valve head and seating member adapted to yield to adownward movement of the valve hea-d when the seating member is seated,and means to permit of' the ent-rance of fluid to permit the same topass above the valve head and be thereby trapped when the parts arereleased.

5. A well testing tool including a valve head and valve, each havingports capable of' alinement; a seating member having connection withsaid valve to support the same when the valve head is actuated to effectan alinement of said ports; a separate compressible side wall packingmember arranged intermediate said valve head and said seating member toyield to the movement of the former, and a perforated fluid receivingpipe below said seating member.

6. An apparatus of the character described including a relativelystationary valve member having ports and a sliding valve head havingports alineable with the ports of the valve member; a member below thevalve member supporting the valve member; the body of said lower memberbeing substantially cone shaped; means to cause a downward movement ofthe valve head to aline the ports of said head and the valve melnber,and means to permit passage of fluid through said ports to entrap thesame above the valve head when the latter is closed.

7. In a Well testing tool, a casing. a packing member dependingtherefrom and provided with a fluid passage therethrough, a valvecontrolling said passage and positively operable incident to theengagement of said member with a wall of a well bore, and a separateside wall packer interposed between the casing and packing member forexpansion in the valve operation.

8. A sand testing tool including a casing containing a valve and asliding valve head guided upon the valve, each having ports adapted toregister; a base packing member below said valve and operativelyconnected therewith; a side wall packing intermediate said valve andbase packing to yield to a downward movement of the valve head toregister said ports, and means to permit passage of fluid through saidports to be trapped above the valve when closed.

9. In a well testing tool, a casing having a ported valve member foradmitting fluid from below, a telescoping ported valve for closing thevalve port of the casing to trap fluid above said valve, a seatingpacking member carried by the casing for engaging the bottom of a welland connected to open said valve in the downward movement of said valvemember, and a side wall packer above the seating member arranged to beexpanded into engagement with the side wall of a well when the seatingmember is in cont-act with the bottom of a well.

In testimony' whereof I aix my signature.

CONRAD T. NEI'TZEL.

